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0 One of Neighbours’ longest-serving cast members has slammed the organisers of the Logie Awards for failing to give the Aussie soap a proper send-off on Sunday.
The popular show, which just filmed its last episode after being cancelled following a historic 37-year run, was barely mentioned at TV’s night of nights, with the cast and crew having to sit through a short highlight reel and brief speech by two former stars.
Ryan Moloney, who plays Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi, said on Wednesday he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ by the lacklustre tribute put together for the ceremony.
One of Neighbours’ longest-serving cast members has slammed the organisers of the Logie Awards for failing to give the Aussie soap a proper send-off on Sunday. Ryan Moloney (pictured), who plays Jarrod ‘Toadfish’ Rebecchi, said on Wednesday he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ by the lacklustre tribute put together for the ceremony
He told 2Day FM’s Hughesy, Ed and Erin the Neighbours cast members who were invited to the Logies all had bad seats with cameras obstructing their view of the stage.
The Ramsay Street veteran, 42, also said it was unfair that two former Neighbours stars, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Daniel MacPherson, were invited on stage to share their memories of the soap, instead of an actor currently on the series.
Moloney said the entire 2022 cast should have been invited on stage to say one final goodbye to their peers after the show was cancelled in March.
He also revealed cast members from rival soap Home and Away had approached the Neighbours crew to say how shocked they were by the lack of a proper tribute.
The popular show, which just filmed its last episode after being cancelled following a historic 37-year run, was barely mentioned at TV’s night of nights, with the cast and crew having to sit through a short highlight reel and brief speech by two former stars. (Pictured: the 2022 cast)
Moloney (pictured with co-star Stefan Dennis at the Logies) told 2Day FM the Neighbours stars who were invited to the Logies had bad seats with cameras obstructing their view of the stage
‘We turned up, and we did our mandatory three-hour talking to people on the red carpet… When we got in the room we ended up being split up and stuck on two different tables, it was horrible!’ Moloney said.
‘Our table was actually even stuck behind the cameras; we couldn’t even see the stage. It was incredibly disappointing the package they put together.’
Moloney went on to say the cast deserved a chance to come on stage to say their last goodbyes after the highlight reel of Neighbours’ most memorable moments.
‘Daniel and Nat are just absolutely gorgeous people and absolutely nothing against them, but we’ve got people who have been on TV for nearly 30 years each, and I think probably the least they could do is get us to say something,’ he said.
‘I mean we’re in the bloody [Logies] Hall of Fame. That’s not how you treat people and a show that’s in the Hall of Fame. I mean, good luck to the Logies, really.’
The Ramsay Street veteran, 42, also said it was unfair that two former Neighbours stars, Natalie Bassingthwaighte (right) and Daniel MacPherson (left), were invited on stage to share their memories of the soap, instead of an actor currently on the series
Neighbours was axed after the UK’s Channel 5 decided in March not to renew its contract with production company Fremantle to finance and broadcast the series.
After the ceremony, leading industry blogger David Knox of TV Tonight said the show’s cast should’ve been invited on stage to take a bow during the on-air tribute.
‘Only a week ago the show wrapped 37 years of production, unsurpassed in Australian drama history,’ Mr Knox wrote after the ceremony.
‘That cast should have been on the stage and taken a bow,’ he said.
‘The entire room would have given them a standing ovation. The Home and Away team would have been their biggest fans on the night.’
During the Logies’ tribute, a highlight reel aired of Neighbours’ most memorable moments, including fan favourites Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.
Neighbours alumni MacPherson, 42, and Bassingthwaighte, 46, then appeared on stage to present the award for Most Popular New Talent.
Both actors had started their careers on the 10 Peach soap opera.
‘I have so many amazing memories of my time on the show,’ Bassingthwaighte said.
She namechecked Neighbours lifers Jackie Woodburne, Alan Fletcher, Stefan Dennis and Ian Smith as her ‘mentors’ in the industry.
The last episode of Neighbours will air in Australia and the UK on August 1.
Neighbours was axed after the UK’s Channel 5 decided in March not to renew its contract with production company Fremantle to finance and broadcast the series. (Pictured: Ryan Moloney)
Source: | Dailymail.co.uk
